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Wednesday, 05 July 2006 11:08
BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk
Investigation finds widespread institutional abuse of people with learning disabilities
A damning report has raised serious concerns about the treatment and care of people with learning disabilities.

The Healthcare Commission, the health service regulator, has ordered a national review of all NHS and private residential and day units that care for thousands of people with learning disabilities. Inspectors found evidence of a "systematic'' and a "malicious'' campaign of institutionalised abuse over several years in Cornwall.

It included "kicking, shoving and dragging, belittling, goading and mocking … withholding food, giving cold showers, overzealous or premature use of restraint, poor attitude towards people who used services, poor atmosphere, roughness, care not provided, lack of dignity and respect and no privacy".

There were allegations of sexual abuse by fellow residents and one man had his skull fractured in an attack by another with learning disabilities.

People's money has also been misused and the Commission for Social Care Inspection and Health Commission have referred these cases to the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service.

The inquiry by the Healthcare Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection was into care provided by the Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust, following complaints raised by the East Cornwall Mencap Society.

One investigator, Christine Braithwaite, said at a briefing in Falmouth: "Senior staff commented that it was the worst case of widespread abuse of patients with learning difficulties they had ever seen”.

David Congdon, of Mencap, said: "The extent of abuse in Cornwall has been truly appalling. It is quite horrific that this has been allowed to continue for as long as it has”.

Lezlie Boswell, the new chief executive of the trust, said yesterday: "The failings which have been brought to light are shocking and shameful. There are no excuses.

"My job now is to turn the services around. I will not accept bad practice. What is vital from now on is that staff and carers are supported to report mistakes and concerns”.

In a joint statement Anna Walker, the chief executive of the Healthcare Commission, and David Behan, the chief inspector of the Commission for Social Care Inspection, said that in the light of events in Cornwall it was "right to ask about the state of these services around the country".
The Healthcare Commission has already intervened at a private unit for adolescents in Norfolk which closed and has been asked by Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust, south London, to investigate allegations of sexual and physical abuse. "We are not saying that the abusive behaviour we found in Cornwall is happening everywhere," a spokesman said. "But sadly Cornwall is not the only service where serious allegations have been made in recent months”.

An investigation by Devon and Cornwall police using powers under the Protection of Vulnerable Adults Act has begun into allegations made by or on behalf of 40 patients.


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